Mr. Sunshine.  This awe-inspiring one-season series and its many moments shined in every possible way.  From its deep storytelling to its intricate cinematography.  I loved it.  I have watched several Korean dramas before, but this one was unlike any I had ever seen in every aspect.  It was my first time to even cry while watching a K-Drama. Speaking volumes and truly setting the bar high.

Story:  The show takes place in late 19th/early 20th-century Korea, a time period not often depicted in Korean dramas.  Yet, Mr. Sunshine fluidly combines history, action, drama, melodrama, romance, and even occasional humor.  Never overbearing or overshadowing one genre over the other.  Though the historical fiction aspect of Mr. Sunshine is based loosely on historical events and figures, they are well covered and bring more cohesiveness in the story.  After having watched the first episode, I was hesitant to continue; it really dragged out the plot and I wondered if rest of the show would continue similarly.  One episode later...I was so glad I stuck with it.  There continued to be a multitude of slow-paced scenes and flashbacks in the following episodes, but they helped fill in the gaps or emphasize a foreshadowing. While mostly maintaining accuracy in the language used for the time period, the script was meaningful and witty and contained an abundance of memorable quotes. The overall story was a passionate and meticulous masterpiece writhed with metaphors and life lessons.   

Acting / Cast:  BRAVO!  My hat's off to the main cast.  Each main cast member exhibits great dedication to his or her roles, enveloping the character's personality and characteristics in each emotion.  The characters are written to be three-dimensional and evolving, and the main actors follow through beautifully with that.  The script includes several lines in English and Japanese (even some French). Even with these linguistic barriers, the main actors and actresses pull it off amazingly.  I was especially impressed with Lee Byung-hun (Eugene Choi). It is one thing to speak English and another to act in English. Lee did both so well that I occasionally thought he was a native English speaker, as his diction and accompanying acting were clear and fluid. In terms of the Japanese spoken, I thought several of the actors were fluent in Japanese. I learned later on from a talk show, featuring Yoo Yeon-seok (Goo Dong-mae), that he and many of the actors didn't know Japanese.  Instead, they had someone who was fluent in Japanese on set to critique their accents.  The Korean supporting cast professionally starred in their own right.  Some being familiar faces on other popular K-dramas.  Continuing on with the supporting Western cast...well, they were written to be one-dimensional for the most part, more on the sidelines, more just to be there and speak English. I didn't have many expectations for them in acting and it could've been worse.
 
Production / Visual FX:  The high quality production matches with the expensive budget.  It goes all out to ensure each scene looks realistic, yet artistic. A multitude of visual effects are used, but they don't detract from the story. Several scenes are also shot in slow motion. With this in mind, the choice camera angles really contribute to the cinematography masterpiece that is Mr. Sunshine.  Each shot had a meaning and if I didn't know the meaning while watching the particular episode, it would become much clearer in a future one.

Music:  The soundtrack and score are top notch!  The soundtrack evokes the melancholy, passion, and determination of the characters, befitting the scenes they are placed with.  Not only with their tone and rhythm but their lyrics too. Another plus: the music never emanates the tackiness I occasionally hear from other romance OSTs. The majority of the OST is in Korean and, interestingly enough, some in straight English.  I assume the English songs are meant to follow the current K-drama trend of including a handful of English-only songs, to allude to the "amicable" relationship that Korea had with the United States then and now, or to symbolize Eugene Choi and his existence as a forever foreigner in the show.  Maybe even all. The score is very fitting to the time period and aligns well with each of the scenes' moods.  I loved it all and still listen to the OST and score weeks after having finished the series.

Rewatch Value:  I have rewatched the majority of Mr. Sunshine and was never disappointed.  Each time I rewatched a whole episode or a few scenes from a prior one, I noticed new nuances, whether it was in character development or a metaphor relating to the culture, time period, and juxtaposition of characters.  It felt like strolling through an art museum that I could never get tired of.  Art that could never grow out of taste and style.

Overall:  STANDING OVATION *slow clapping with tears. That was my reaction after having finished Mr. Sunshine. I would recommend this drama even to those who dislike K-dramas or who have never considered trying it out.  It was that amazing.